Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-03
Of Virginia No. |, for Storey, Washoe,
Lyon and Ormsby counties.


DIVISION COMMANDERS.
w. II. III. Graves, of Oakland No.
for Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa an
Napa counties. -
f 7. C. w. j. Wiisey, of San Bernardln
= No. 5, for San Bernardino county.
All of these appointees have pei
formed their several duties faithful
and deserve the thanks OF their con
rades, l assure them that am not ur
u mindful of their assistance ana cord's
cooperation.
u DESIGNATIONS.
The constitution has wisely lodge
certain dispensing powers in the Gran
Commander, and as such officer L hav
granted, when requested, dispensatlon
to Legions, permitting in some instance
{ departure from their regular order 0
business, such action having for ts OBJ
ject the welfare of the Order.
APPEALs.
From the fact that no appeals have
come up to me, it may be inferred-ano
the inference is justiied-that there
have been no disturbing contentious IN
the ranks. Whatever differences may
have. at times. divided the Comrades, l
am pleased to know that these were oi
short duration and, without exception,
amioably and satisfactorily settled IN the
Legion Room. The absence OF appeals
argues that the Comrades are moved
and governed by that spirit of tolerance
which. trust, will always abide in our
Sacred Retreats. And this leads me to
remark that no body of men engaged in
a common cause can long continue Co
strive successfully unless there Dc
cheerful disposition to make concessions,
TO quickly forget real or fancied causes
of inharmony, and firm resolve to SINK
individual aims in o more laudable am.
bition for the general good. There are
no burning hearts, no discordant leal-
ousits, no unworthy or unloyal rivalries
within our ranks, but, on the contrary, a
generous desire to excel in the virtues
that adorn our Order.
BENEFICIARY DEPARTMENT..
Our constitution provides for the erea'
tion of Beneficiary Department. l am
happy to be able to state that this salu'
tary feature of tho Order is now an es.
tablshed fact. Owing to lack OF
funds the work of printing the
necessary books aud blanks and securing
a autographed Beneficiary Certificate for
this d. epsrtment, was postponed far into
the present term. The Grand Legion
officers having the matter in charge, did
not desire 30 contract debts until they
had the assurance of sufficient funds to
Ilquidate them. 1t was thought wise to
proceed carefully, if slowly. rather than
to rush headlong into debt. l cannot
but feel that the comrades approve this
conservative method Of transacting the
business of the Grand Legion. At last.
however, the contracts for printing and
lithographing We're let. and when the
goods were delivered, all the bills were
promptly paid.
The necessary books and blanks for
this department are now in the hands of
the various recorders, and comrades are
at liberty to make application for bene.
ficiary certificates.
I need not here enter upon q discus
sion of this feature of tho Select knights.
Its enjoyment is optional with the com.
rades. From observation and the exper.
ience Of kindred fraterual organizations,
as well as from reflection as to its bene-
fits, heartily and unrsservedly endorse
the department..
Let 1T not be understood, however,
that l exalt the insurance, or. more
properly speaking, beneficiary depart
ment, above other features and virtues
of our Order. To provide for those de-
pendent upon him aud who have right
to look to him for food and shelter aud
education Is O duty enjoined upon man
by conscience, by religion, by Him who
en- lowed us with brains to think and
hearts to love, and planted in onr breasts
desire for immortality-and it Is one OF
those duties from which he can not be
absolved. To make this provision IS the
natural, spontaneous, and ennobling I'M
pulse Of the human heart. To ignore
The claims of loved ones and to disre.
gard that dnty renders man lower than
the beasts of the field.
Let il be considered your duty. then,
comrades, to make, il you have not
made already, suitable provision for the
dear and venerated objects of your
affection who to-day lean upon your
strong arms. but who, though the vicissi.
tudes of life, may tomorrow walt your
coming in vain 1t is your duty to lay up
a fund, guarded by the sacred honor and
plighted faith of your comrades. which.
should you fall prematurely in the bat.
tie, may relieve from utter despair, the
wife OF your devotion, which may help
your son to an education and calling,
which may save your daughter from the
worlds GOODNESS and uncnaritableness,
and which may render sweet the waning
wears of an aged mother or venerable
father. have na fear that you will
fail to listen to the promptings Of your
hearts, that you will answer the nobler
impulses of youi nature, and to see to it
that these you love aud for whom you
would gladly draw your swords, to die,
if need be, do not fall prey to poverty
when you have gone to march under the
banner OF the Omnipotent Commander.
But, while taking advantage of this
beneficiary feature, do not seek to trans
form our noble Order, dedicated to edu.
cation, without which liberty degener.
ates into license and society becomes
mob; to industry, which is the real foun-
dation of all true prosperity; to union,
without which there can be no perman.
eney, no glory--do not seek to trans.
form our Order, so dedicated, into cold,
passionless, calculating insurance cont
pany. Do not permit the Sacred Re-
treat to be robbed OF its tender and en-.
dearing ties of goodfellowship, Of its
sweet communion of kindred spirits, OF
that elevating aud ennobling compan.
ship which is born of disinterested
and unselfish fraternity.
express myself with some feeling,
not from fear that comrades are dis
posed to invade the Sacred Retreat with
cold calculations of business, but to i'm.
press upon you my conviction that, If
our Order is to live and prosper when we
have gone it must not be looked upon as
cheap and convenlet mode Of securing
an insurance policy; it mus! not lose its
fraternal character; 1t must not be trans
formed into a close, heartless. and con
scienceless corporation. And
. indulge myself in the belize